"This activity is part of our routine agenda held annually in various parts of the country," Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Imam Sufaat said.
He said such social activity was also carried out by other forces, including the Navy through a so-called Operasi Bhaskara Jaya which targeted coastal areas.
"Usually, they (the Navy) carry out such activity in coastal areas they frequently use for training. For us, such activity is normally carried out in areas near air bases," he said.
In carrying out the activity, TNI AU teamed up with a number of agencies, including the Indonesian Humanitarian Foundation and the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN).
While in Pacitan, Sufaat also visited a number of medical service posts set up by the Air Force, including dental service post and cataract operation service post.
He also had dialogs with local residents visiting the medical service posts.
Pacitan was chosen as the venue of the TNI AU`s civic mission this year because many residents there were in dire need of assistance, he said.
The other consideration was that the TNI AU`s assets were also found in the district, he said.
Similar activities were held in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, in 2010 and Kalimantan in 2009.(*)
(S012/HAJM/a014)
Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
